Reading FC's Hammond Could Be Plucked By Premier League Crystal Palace

The 47-year-old has been employed in Berkshire for nigh-on 20 years, first as a goalkeeper before retiring from playing action and taking on the role of youth academy director. He has been director of football since 2003, overseeing the signing and subsequent sales of the likes of Kevin Doyle, Ibrahima Sonko, and Matt Mills.

Such a reputation for buying-low, selling-high has interested Eagles' co-chairman Steve Parish, who has been intent on restructuring the south London club for some time now, with a director of football role a key component of a more modern club hierarchy. Sportsmail report that the lead candidate is former Royals manager and Palace icon Steve Coppell, who has held similar roles at Crawley Town and Portsmouth.

Hammond is among the other contenders for the role, along with Southampton's head of recruitment Ross Wilson - although a move for the Saints man is unlikely, having only recently joined the south-coast side.

Furthermore, 59-year-old Coppell is wanted by Millwall, who seek the Liverpudlian's services in a similar upstairs-capacity.

What do you make of Hammond's reign at the club? Would his departure be a disaster? Comment below.